Meta Launches Real-time Caption and Voice Command Features for Specially-Abled Users on WhatsApp, Insta & Facebook

On May 15, 2025, Meta announced a series of new accessibility features rolling out on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The company aims to make its platforms more usable for people with disabilities.

Meta introduced real-time captions and voice commands on Instagram and Facebook. These features help users who are deaf or hard of hearing follow conversations and control the app hands-free. WhatsApp users will soon get support for audio descriptions in videos, allowing visually impaired users to better understand visual content.

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The company also improved automatic alternative text descriptions for images. This update uses clearer language to describe photos for screen readers, benefiting blind users. Meta worked closely with accessibility experts and advocates to design these updates.

Meta’s accessibility lead, Shiva Rajaraman, said the company wants to build tools that everyone can use easily. Meta also plans ongoing improvements, including more customization options for accessibility settings.

These updates show Meta’s effort to make social media more inclusive. They reflect a growing awareness of accessibility needs and the push to remove barriers online. The new features will begin reaching users globally this month.

In other headlines, Meta also took initiatives to make AI data processing of WhatsApp and Meta directly on user’s devices. You can read more about the Private Processing feature in our coverage here.